EFCC Detains Nigerian Embassy Lawyer Over Alleged Embezzlement

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 16, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), has detained a US based Nigerian lawyer, Mr. Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye over his alleged refusal to remit to the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC the sum of $1.6 million dollars which was refunded to the embassy by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) following the sale of four real estate assets owned by the embassy between 2005 and 2007.

The lawyer was commissioned by the embassy to sell the properties which he sold for about $26 million dollars. He was arrested on Saturday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Ugwuonye, who is still being detained by the anti-graft agency would be charged for misappropriating the tax refund.